Address Book Customizable Field for Multiple Cellular Number Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems fail to distinguish between multiple cellular numbers on a single device, leading to inefficiencies in managing incoming calls and wasting bandwidth, as the address book typically identifies the device rather than the specific number used for the call.

Innovation Solution

A customizable field in the address book is modified to associate incoming calls with specific cellular numbers, allowing users to differentiate between personal, business, or emergency calls, thereby enabling more informed decision-making and efficient resource management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the address book identifies the device instead of the specific cellular number, then the system maintains simplicity in contact management, but the ability to distinguish between multiple cellular numbers on a single device is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about which cellular number is being usedVSAvoidcomplexity of address book structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the contact information by creating separate fields for each cellular number associated with a contact. Instead of treating the device as a single entity, the system divides the phone number information into distinct segments (first cellular number, second cellular number, etc.), allowing the user to specify which number should be used for each contact while maintaining the overall simplicity of the address book structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new dimension to the address book by introducing a selectable field that indicates which cellular number should be used for each contact. This additional dimension allows the system to track and manage multiple cellular numbers per contact without fundamentally changing the core address book structure, thereby resolving the contradiction between information completeness and system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cellular numbers are supported on a single device, then the versatility of the device increases, but the complexity of managing incoming calls and identifying the specific number increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to use multiple cellular numbersVSAvoidease of managing incoming calls
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by requiring users to pre-configure the address book with specific cellular number assignments for each contact before receiving calls. This advance setup eliminates the need for complex real-time decision-making when calls arrive, as the system already has predetermined instructions for routing and displaying information about incoming calls from each number.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a configuration interface that mediates between the user's intent and the system's call management. This intermediary layer allows users to easily specify which cellular number should be used for each contact through a simple selection process, thereby simplifying the overall management of multiple cellular numbers while maintaining high versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If the system does not distinguish between multiple cellular numbers, then the processing overhead is reduced, but bandwidth is wasted due to inability to make informed routing decisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecellular bandwidth usageVSAvoidcomplexity of call identification system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cellular number identification information from the general device identification and places it into a dedicated configurable field in the address book. This extraction allows the system to efficiently retrieve and use specific cellular number information when needed, reducing unnecessary processing overhead while enabling informed routing decisions that can optimize bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the address book to serve itself by automatically managing multiple cellular number assignments. Once configured, the system autonomously tracks which cellular number is associated with each contact and uses this information for call management, eliminating the need for complex external intervention or continuous processing overhead while preventing bandwidth waste through intelligent routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10250745B2Identifying the cellular number on a cellular device capable of supporting multiple cellular numbers
Publication Date: 2019.04.02 T MOBILE US INC
  • US10250745B2 patent drawing
  • US10250745B2 patent drawing
  • US10250745B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Technologies for displaying information about a number used to contact a cellular device is described herein. A customizable field in a contact is used to designate which number of plurality of numbers usable by the cellular device the originating device associated with the contact is using to connect to the cellular device.